Does apple ever have a sale on their Mac Pros?

[eliza61]

So I've always been a PC gal myself but honorable son #2 just called and said his college of choice requires incoming freshmen to have 15 or 17 inch Mac Pros.

Just went to apples website and they are listed from $1700 to $2400.
Are there deals that I should keep an eye out for?
Mac users do you like them? we've been pc users our entire computer life. wish they allowed him Hp's or dells, I get a company discount with those.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

They don't put them on sale but there is often an education discount if you ask about it. They may just give it to you for asking or you may need proof from the school that he is a student. I know I have received a teacher discount by showing my id.

 

[Swimalie]

Check out Mac Connection. We got my lap top 2 years ago through them and it was $122 less than through Apple. The sell brand new products and some how are able to offer a discount. The lap top arrived about a week later and in perfect shape.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Does college of choice mean the school he wants to attend or has he been accepted? There is no rush to buy either way. As someone posted, you can get an educational discount on most Apple products from the school.

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/campaigns/education_pricing

 

[eliza61]

Does college of choice mean the school he wants to attend or has he been accepted? There is no rush to buy either way. As someone posted, you can get an educational discount on most Apple products from the school.

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/campaigns/education_pricing

He's been accepted and it's his first choice (University of Cincinnati, school of DAAP). He recieved an email yesterday telling us what laptop he'd be required to have. We did have a bit of warning when we went to visit the school during an open house and got to talk with the program advisor.

 

[4shinystars]

MY DD has a Macbook Pro and absolutely loves it. She is a junior in college, an Art/Design major. We were concerned about the cost, but went through the Apple education site. The promotion she had was a free ipod touch and printer, so although there wasn't a discount, it was a deal. That's usually in July/August.
She has never had a problem with her mac, one great thing is that she never gets viruses that pc users can get (like 3 of her roommates!), and it's a very sturdy machine. Now that she has the mac, she hates pcs,lol.

 

[cornflake]

Check with your company. Many larger companies have discount relationships with Apple. It runs around 7-10%, which is all the discounting they ever do, but it's something.

You might also keep checking the site for refurbished models. They guarantee them, replace the cases and batteries and you can get a bigger discount there.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Last summer, Apple had a back to school special which gave a $100 Itunes gift card with each computer purchase. You could still take advantage of the educational discount. The iTunes card can be used to buy programs for the computer from the Mac App store, as well as music for your son's iPod! -- Suzanne

 

[ilovemk76]

Every July Apple holds their annual millionaire sale.

 

[Forevryoung]

Although expensive, I want to chime in that they last FOREVER.

I purchased one of the original MacBooks (white with a 80gb hard drive...) when I started grad school in 2006. I am typing on it now and don't have any desire to get a new one any time soon. It's used daily as my only computer and for 2 years it was used for 12+ hours a day. The only thing I have done is gotten a larger hard drive and upgraded the operating system (a year ago for less than $200 total).

I honestly believe that this thing (that's nearly 6 years old and running better than day one) will last me forever and the only reason I will replace it is if I would like something a bit newer. Definitely $1200 well spent.

If cost is an issue, does he need a new one? Might be a used one out there in great shape.

 

[eliza61]

Thanks all, great information. This is our first foray into the apple world, as we have only had PC's. I just wanted to know what to expect.

We're going to play at the apple store this weekend. appreciate the help.

 

[mountdew1]

Most educational institutions get offered a discount by Apple. You can see the discount on the Apple website here -> http://store.apple.com/us/browse/campaigns/education_pricing

You can also see refurbished discounts here -> http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac The last gen hardware can be a hundred or so less than the edu discount, but it is typically around a year old.

This past year Apple actually offered the equivalent of the edu discount on Black Friday, something that they hadn't done before.

Some 3rd party resellers will offer a slight discount, but I highly doubt they will be significantly better than the edu discount.

As a PP mentioned, if you hold off til the back to school time, they usually do a decent promo. Some times it was buy a laptop, get an ipod, last year it was buy a laptop, get an iTunes gift card. The laptop itself won't be any cheaper, but you will at least get something out of the deal. You can usually still apply any eligible edu discount at that deal.

But thats about it.

 

[North of Mouse]

Our Apple store in the mall here is always mobbed - why should they put them on sale LOL !! My DH and I both have one and love them, but he did get a company discount, though not a huge amount.

 

[rentayenta]

Check for any Apple certified refurbs.

 

[m&m's mom]

Most educational institutions get offered a discount by Apple. You can see the discount on the Apple website here -> http://store.apple.com/us/browse/campaigns/education_pricing

You can also see refurbished discounts here -> http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac The last gen hardware can be a hundred or so less than the edu discount, but it is typically around a year old.

This past year Apple actually offered the equivalent of the edu discount on Black Friday, something that they hadn't done before.

Some 3rd party resellers will offer a slight discount, but I highly doubt they will be significantly better than the edu discount.

As a PP mentioned, if you hold off til the back to school time, they usually do a decent promo. Some times it was buy a laptop, get an ipod, last year it was buy a laptop, get an iTunes gift card. The laptop itself won't be any cheaper, but you will at least get something out of the deal. You can usually still apply any eligible edu discount at that deal.

But thats about it.

Actually Apple offered the Black Friday the year before as well as that is when I ordered DD's Ipad.

 

[luvdisney00]

I switched from PC to Mac on Thanksgiving weekend when I bought an iMac desktop and I have to say the switch was a little rough at 1st (it is so different) but now that I am used to it, I love it. Buy the computer for your son early and let him play and get used to it before he is expected to work on it for school. It is an adjustment, although it is probably easier for a kid than it was for me.
They are amazing machines, you'll probably want one too!

Oh and I used the school discount since both DH and I work in schools. It's not much, but it's something.

Have fun in the Apple store, it's amazing in there!

 

[Patience]

Check Best Buy and amazon. Best Buy usually has an apple promotion in July/August. We decided to go ahead and get our daughter (who is a senior in high school) a Macbook Pro for Christmas since there are so many other expenses right before she leaves for college this August. Amazon matched the Best Buy Black Friday deal ($150 off and free shipping). After Christmas, we found a cover for it on amazon on sale for half of what they charge at the Apple store. I haven't purchased apple care yet but I will this September or October. You can purchase it anytime before the 1 year manufacturer's warranty expires.

She loves her Mac by the way.

 

[PhillyMc]

Two things check out http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/ looks like they are about to release a new model so the older models should be sold off cheeper. Second do not fall for people who say Mac's don't get viruses. Mac's only make up around 10% of all computer users but over 15% of all viruses. It just happens to be a numbers game so please make sure when they get any computer to get a good anti-virus program.

 

[Swimalie]

Two things check out http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/ looks like they are about to release a new model so the older models should be sold off cheeper. Second do not fall for people who say Mac's don't get viruses. Mac's only make up around 10% of all computer users but over 15% of all viruses. It just happens to be a numbers game so please make sure when they get any computer to get a good anti-virus program.

Here is a good, basic site about macs and viruses - http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000737.htm We've had Macs since 1985 and we have a program to check for viruses but we only run it maybe once every 2 months. So far we have not gotten a virus (knock on wood)

 

[arthuruscg]

Is he doing a graphics design program?
That is the only reason I could think of to get a mac, but even then macs are starting not not be required because of the Virtural Desktop systems that companies are starting to use. Virtural Desktop systems keeps everything behind the company firewall severely reducing IP theft.

What programs will he be required to run?